Chapter 23
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 23
Chapter Title New Dazzling Park
New Dazzling Park.
It was Newcastle Uniteds training ground.
The New had been added because theyd bought up all the surrounding wasteland and poured money into massive new construction and renovations, turning it into something completely different from the old facility.
In simple terms, theyd thrown cash at it.
Id joined the club because of talk about them being the worlds richest team, and now that I was here, I couldnt help but marvel at the setup.
It was insanefacilities Id never seen even in Portugal or Spain, where Id played.
With toptier staff taking care of you in a place like this, it was beyond comprehension that they werent sitting at number one.
What really blew my mind, though, was the youth team training ground.
I had no choice but to be stunned.
Newcastle United didnt reserve the best facilities and staff just for the senior team.
The youth teams had setups on par with the seniorsin some ways, even betterand worldrenowned coaches were developing the youngsters.
And the pitches for each age group.
I could confidently say the worlds top groundskeepers maintained that grass.
Not only was the turf in perfect condition, but the moisture level was ideal too.
So this is where Ill be playing from now on?
Guess Im a soccer nut after all. Getting excited over something like this proves it.
Yoon.
I turned around at the voice calling from behind while testing the grass underfoot.
Aiden Bridge.
He was the coach for the U16 team Id be trying out for.
Hello.
Yeah, howre you feeling?
Not bad.
No nerves or anything?
Nope.
Condition?
Perfect.
Good. I hope it all works out well for you.
Me too.
I grinned.
Today was the U16 entry trial.
Normally, at 13 years old, Id be joining the academy, but apparently my physical tests had gone so well they bumped me up to U16.
This mattered a lot.
The academy was about spotting potential in kids, more like school or a hobby at that level. But U16 was the real start toward becoming a pro senior player.
No matter what it took, starting at U16 was the way to go.
Of course, I was confident.
Still, the coach and staff eyeing me looked skeptical.
I could tell just by their stares, and I overheard the whispers too.
That kids 13? Whys he so small?
Asians are slower to develop than Europeans at that age, from what I hear.
Can he handle U16 players with that physique?
The oldest kid on the team is 15, right? And hes even smaller than that one.
Hed be better off starting at U15, or even U14...
Putting together what Id overheard so far, it seemed this place was stricter about age groups than most European clubs.
The director apparently hated skipping grades due to injury and mental health risks.
But would coddling them like that really help them grow?
Mental toughness, at least, had to be broken early in my book.
You break, then you harden.
The ones who shatter without toughening up break easy even as adults.
Anyway, that wasnt my problem.
Kids were starting to saunter into the training ground.
They were definitely big.
A whole head taller than me, at least.
Some were so huge I wondered if they were really 16.
Maybe thats why European and South American kids outdid usthey matured physically early and got developed from there.
Feeling the pressure?
Aiden Bridge asked me then.
Probably because Id been staring at them for a while.
I shook my head.
Im good.
Good? You could get hurt, or get muscled off the ball and not even touch it once. Still good?
Why was he needling me like that?
If I said I was good, I was good.
Theres a saying back home You dont know if its long or short till you measure it.
Hmm...
So lets measure.
Hah...!
Aiden let out a dry laugh as he watched the boy trot onto the pitch.
The kid was bold.
Well, at that age, nothing in the world scared you.
But we cant underestimate him.
No matter how talented the kid was or how high his test scores, the U16 boys hed face had watched toplevel games here and gained real experience playing.
Talent alone couldnt beat experience.
Overlook that, and youd get burned.
Ah, whatever.
Newcastle didnt allow gradeskipping anyway.
If the kid crashed and burned here, itd confirm their philosophy.
The boy had said forward line anywhere was fine.
Hearing that, Aiden Bridge ruthlessly assigned him to the center.
Why ruthless?
In the Premier League, center forward meant hell insane pressure, marking, physical battles, and fouls galore.
Sure, other leagues too, but the Premier League cranked it up to eleven.
How many forwards had thrived elsewhere only to flop after transferring in?
Few had succeeded there without elite physiques, and those who did were all worldclass.
Youth level was the same.
Kids bred for the Premier League were just as ferocious.
Could he handle it?
With that build?
If he could, hed be the real deala future star.
Just then, the coach blew the whistle to start the practice match.
The boy, not the social type since he hadnt chatted much with the others, took a pass and surged forward right away.
At that moment, the Taeyang teamfitted to the current managers tacticsstarted quick passing buildup play. The opposition pushed their line high for allout pressing.
As the oppositions midfielders surged up, narrowing the gap between midfield and defense, Taeyang got trapped in the pocket, locked in like a prison.
The Taeyang team scrambled for an outlet but struggled.
They were mostly reserves in fluorescent vests against the brutal starters.
They couldnt advance, getting overwhelmed.
So what would Taeyang do?
As the coachs eyes turned to him, Taeyang dropped between the oppositions midfield and defense.
Dropping deep?
An attacker?
It was a clever spotno one nearby to mark him.
A teammate spotted it and passed.
The moment Taeyang took the ball, he spun and fired a long ball into the left channel.
Oh!
It was a pinpoint pass that drew gasps.
Perfect into the halfspace between fullback and centerback for the winger to exploit, and awkward back space for defenders and keeper.
The Taeyang teams left winger reacted instantly, raced through the halfspace, took the ball, and charged the goal.
But the oppositionthe starterscenterback was just as quick as the winger.
He caught up in a flash, tackled the ball away, and played a forward pass.
Aidens gaze shifted back to Taeyang.
Wondering his reaction after that beauty got cut out.
Taeyang shook his head side to side and ran forward silently.
Amid the oppositions quick buildup, Taeyang scanned around fast and slipped behind a teammate moving for a pass.
The moment that player received and turned, Taeyang stole the ball at his feet and bolted.
A centerback charged at Taeyang as he drove with the ball.
Taeyang didnt stopfaked a stumble and cut left.
The centerback turned and chased.
It was the same speedy centerback whod caught the Taeyang winger earlier.
Three years older, he matched Taeyangs speedno, exceeded itwith sharp judgment. He closed the gap quick, blocking the run and poised to snatch the ball easy.
But it didnt go that way.
Taeyang spotted the move, slammed the brakes, switched directions, and burst right.
A fullback had followed, covering the space the centerback created and blocking the lane.
But Taeyang nutmegged him with a La Croqueta, breezed past, and created a oneonone with the keeper.
As Taeyang drove straight at goal into the penalty area outskirts, the keeper rushed out boldly.
Taeyang swung his right foot without hesitation.
The quickreaction keeper twitched, leaning right.
Taeyangs right foot hadnt struck the ballit planted in the turf.
A feint shooting motion to fool the keeper.
But with his balance tipped right, Taeyang shouldve controlled the ball again to recover.
He didnt.
Using his right as a pivot, he whipped his left foot through.
No need for power from therejust loft it in.
The gentle chip curved around the keepers backpedal, out of reach, and crossed the line.
Aiden stared blankly before snapping to and asking the coaching staff.
So, what do you think?
Pass was precise.
Insanely quick for his age.
Ambidextrous attackers are rare.
Balance is nuts. Even with the keeper selling the fake...
That interception was perfect. Great vision too. Honestly, midfielder material.
Hmm.
Aiden nodded inwardly at the coaches takes but stayed cool.
Too early to say. Lets keep watching.
The game resumed.
Now the Taeyang team pressed the starters.
Taeyang joined aggressively.
Never trained here, yet he formed triangles with teammates.
Even tailored to the managers system, U16 tactics had simple elements for kids.
Still, grasping and moving instantly showed brains.
Not just defensenow with the ball, he ghosted off the defensive line at the same level, creating space with clever cutout runs.
A teammate stabbed into that space Taeyang snuck behind the defenders blindside.
Took the ball there, shielded from the centerback with his back, spun away.
Physically outmatched, yet he never went down.
Used their force against them, broke their balance.
Then exploded forward at unbelievable 13yearold speed to finish.
A rightfooted curler laughed off the keeper checking his left and ripped into the net.
While the U16s top striker hadnt had a single shot, Yoon Taeyang turned both his chances into goals.
Isnt that enough?
He could join our team.
After a moments thought at the staffs words, Aiden said.
Not like Kalssen to push a bold call like that for nothing.
Aiden acknowledged the uncharacteristic gamble from Kalssen, and Taeyangs inclusion was set.